A female paramedic says she relives being stabbing ‘every time I close my eyes’ after an attacker knifed her and a colleague as they responded to a 999 call.
Mother-of-three Deena Evans, 39, was stabbed once in the chest and fellow medic Michael Hipgrave , 51, was slashed across his back during an incident at a maisonette in Wolverhampton on July 6 just after midday.
The experienced medics had been called to the property to carry out a concern-for-welfare check on the sole male occupant after the alarm was raised by a relative.
Deena Evans, 39, and Michael Hipgrave, 51, spoke of their ordeal for the first time after they were stabbed while attending an incident in Wolverhampton
Ms Evans was stabbed once in the chest and Mr Hipgrave was slashed across his back while on a welfare-check call
Shocking pictures taken at the scene show the pair, who starred in a TV show Inside the Ambulance last year, being treated by terrified colleagues.
Neighbours said they heard ‘blood curdling screams’ and the ambulance workers shouting ‘please help, he’s got a knife’ during the horrifying incident.
They were rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and Mr Hipgrave was discharged from hospital later the same evening.
Ms Evans had to spend another two days receiving treatment both of them are hoping to return to work soon.
Speaking for the first time since the incident, both have told of their shock over what happened and of the lasting physical, mental and emotional scars.
The pair said their families and children had ‘suffered’ and the colleagues who treated them were ‘victims too’.
In a video released by West Midlands Ambulance Service, Ms Evans, who still wears her left arm in a sling after suffering nerve damage in the attack, said: ‘Things take time, physical scars heal but then there’s the mental scars after.
‘It’s those things that’ll perhaps take the time and adjusting to what’s happened.
West Midlands Police said that a man accused of stabbing the emergency workers was tasered at the scene
‘You close your eyes at night and you relive the whole situation, every time you close your eyes.
‘You just can’t get it out your head and it’s getting over that stage, being able to put it to bed, and at the minute, I don’t think I’m there.
Discussing her injury, she said: ‘It’s affected some of the nerves in my arm and although I can use it, I can’t lift it fully. It feels like I’ve got a glove on – it feels really numb.’
She also said her chest was still ‘really sore, really painful’.
Senior paramedic Mr Hipgrave described how he was physically getting better but his emotional state was ‘changing hourly, daily’, adding ‘some days are better than others’.
He said: ‘It’s still quite a shock. I’m having good hours and bad hours at the moment.
‘We’re getting a lot of support from colleagues and friends and family, and general members of the public we’ve never even met before sending us lots of good wishes.’
The pair also said they were extremely grateful after being inundated with messages of support.
Ms Evans said she relives the terrifying moment she was stabbed every time she closes her eyes
Ms Evans said: ‘We’ve had support from the Trust, we’ve got things in place to deal with what happened.
‘There’s not enough thank yous in the world for everybody for the well wishes.
‘I think it has been a bit of a shock for people, and obviously we’ve both got children.
‘We’ve had to support our children with it as well because it is a big thing.
‘We do have medical knowledge, so to hear what’s happening to you and not be able to do anything is scary.
‘When it happened, what was going through my head, was how are my colleagues feeling?
‘Obviously, I’ve spoken to them since and it is really upsetting. They’re our friends. It has been quite difficult for us all.’
Mr Hipgrave, who had his stitches out this week, added: ‘We’re getting a lot of support from colleagues, friends and family and general members of the public we’ve never met sending us lots of good wishes.
The paramedic pair had featured on the television show Inside the Ambulance last year. They both hope to get back to work as soon as possible
‘Being able to speak with fellow colleagues is very helpful sometimes.
‘It’s been very difficult for my family and I’m sure it has for Deena’s.
‘We had quite an emotional meeting with the staff involved, with lots of tears, talking and questions.
‘Although we already knew how difficult it would be for them being clinicians ourselves, being friends as well must have made it doubly hard.’
They’re victims too in a way because you never expect to go out to a colleague, especially in a situation like the one that occurred.’
Both are facing the road to recovery with a determination to get back on the job, they said.
Mr Hipgrave said: ‘Hopefully I will return to work as soon as possible, that’s my objective. The ambulance service is my life, it’s not a job to me.’
Ms Evans said: ‘I think it’s same for me, I love my job. I joined the service to do this job and as soon as I can I’d like to go back out on the road.
‘I want to be back out there, helping people.’
Two police officers who were also attending the call on July 6 entered the property and tasered the suspect with an electric stun gun, before arresting him.
Martyn Smith, 52, of Wolverhampton, has been charged with two counts of wounding.